Chapter 3 - Ready to Go.

Autumn's POV


I saw Janine narrow her eyes and I could tell she was about to make a snappy comment when Dan handed her her notebook.

"It was on you desk back inside I thought you might need it."

She seemed to smile a little, "Thanks."

Dan said hi to me and I gave him a tight smile as Janine pulled me on the bus. Clearly I was in trouble again.

She grabbed me by my shoulders, fixing me with a steel gaze, "You've worked your ass off for this chance haven't you?

"Well, yeah...." I looked at her, "I want this more than anything, but-"

"But nothing," She snapped, and then took a deep breath, "There's going to be shitty and shitty people in this industry and you can either let them trample you or grab a paddle, it's up to you." She glanced at the bus and waved to Panic! as they got on.

"I've seen many people come in and out, Autumn. You have a real shot," her voice turned more gentle, "Don't let your ego get in the way of it."

"MY ego isn't the problem," I said angrily, looking over at Brendon.

"...are you on the right bus?" Brendon asked, sounding genuinely confused as he looked at me.

"Brendon!" Janine said with a smile, rushing over to him, "I've been over the numbers with Gary and we decided to save ourselves a couple hundred quid and share a bus."

You must be Janine, hi," he smiled and shook her hand, naturally to destroy any hope of her being on my side, "That's fine, it makes sense."

Janine looked between the two of us, "Look, I understand that there has been some conflict over the stage, but we're all professionals here and we all want this tour to go on without a hitch, so whatever proverbial hatchet you two have, I would like you to bury it, because I only have so much Advil in such an enclosed space."

"It was nice to meet you, Brendon." Janine shook his hand again and nodded to me. "Autumn." And then headed towards the entrance of the bus, stepping off. Spencer followed suite.

I crossed my arms again.

"Well, I'm not apologizing." I said flatly.

Brendon smirked, "Sounds about right."

God, he pissed me off.

"Look, I'm not gonna worship you."

"Not expecting you to, but a little respect would be nice."

"Well I might offer respect, but there's no chance I'll like you."

Brendon smirked again, "Good, because I won't like you, either."

I rolled my eyes and opened one of the cabinets, finding a bottle of vodka, "Aha..."

Brendon shot me a look, "Hey-"

"Oh, come on, you owe me," I opened it and took a swig, "Weak ass vodka you got here, Urie."

Brendon scoffed, "I really don't need your approval, and you're to refer to me by my first name."

"Like fuck I am," I laughed and he stood up.

"I'm serious."

Dan, who had been quiet all this time, stood up, "Hey, guys, you don't have to-"

I turned to look at him. "Yes?"

Dan swallowed, "Look, a fight isn't-"

"Don't worry, I wouldn't hit a girl," Brendon replied, "Like she's much of one..."

Within seconds I had him pinned to the ground, me on top of him holding his wrists to the floor. Daniel ran out immediately and Brendon started screaming at me, "GET OFF ME YOU BITCH!"

"TAKE IT BACK!" I screamed back at him, "FUCKING TAKE IT BACK, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"

In a split second, Janine was back on the bus. Before springing into action, she deftly slipped her fingers on a certain pressure point on my hand and bent my arm in a way to get me to back off and before Brendon could do anything else, did the same to him. Both of them us on our knees facing opposite directions and with our hands around our backs in what was unbelievable pain.

"If you two don't SHUT the HELL UP, I will have both your bands thrown out of this tour and if you don't believe I can do that, than just fuckin try me." Janine snapped. She was serious.

"He-" I started, and then Janine pressed my hand further up my back.

"I don't give two shits what he did." Janine noted that Brendon smirked and so she gave him the same treatment and he winced in pain.

"You two and being extremely disrespectful to the time and effort that people have put in to this tour! Even yourselves. You will spend the trip on opposite ends of the bus and are not allowed to talk to each other, do you understand? I don't care if you're the bloody pope." She glared at Brendon, "You are older than me for God's sake, try to act your age. I expect this sort of behavior from teenagers."

She then took a breath.

"If you two so much as look at each other funny you will be left at the next gas station or dirt road. do I make myself clear?"

I coughed, "Crystal..."

Janine didn't let me go and looked at Brendon, "And you?"

Brendon groaned, "Yeah yeah, fine."

She dropped us both and I felt like I'd been hit by a truck.

We looked up to see Dan and Spencer looking rather scared, "Right... shall we get going?" I watched her walk past them and start talking to the driver, and within twenty minutes we were on the freeway and about to begin the long strenuous journey of guessing who will break the silence first.

I was sitting on the couch, reading a comic book when my phone started to vibrate. I looked down at it, and to my horror, saw the name of my foster mother. I stared at the phone.

I glanced over my notes of the upcomming events and sighed. there was so much that would need to be covered and so little time. there goes any sleep i planned on having. I thought and looked up around the bus and noticed that Autumn was staring at her phone in sheer horror, i slid over to her. "what's going on?"

I shook my head, "No...."

Janine looked over at her phone and noticed the number, "Well..."

"NOW she wants to talk," I tossed the phone across the bus, just missing Spencer as he exited the bathroom, "Sorry..."

"Evil ex?" Brendon quipped.

"I fucking wish." I said darkly. I'd never had a boyfriend.

Dan smirked and tossed me a bottle of rum to Janine, "You lose." She returned the smile. Some kind of inside joke to them, I'm sure.

I was starting to do nervous pacing. Spencer handed Janine the phone, to which she promptly pressed the end call button sending it straight to voicemail.

"Thanks," I said quietly. I was curled up in a ball now, my hood falling down over my head. I was deeply uncomfortable.

Dan got up and sat down beside me. He turned on the light and cracked open his leather bound book in silent support. I glanced over at his book, and he gave me a little look a comfort. I felt a bit better.

Brendon turned to look at Janine and she shook my head and whispered something to him. I could feel his eyes on me. I wasn't willing to talk to him, if ever.

"D'you believe in happy endings, Urie?" I asked him. He looked surprised to see me speaking to him.

"Well...fairy tales aren't real, so..." he trailed off.

"For the first time, I agree with you," I said, looking out the window. We all sat in silence for a little while after that, the bus ride to Manchester calm and serene.

A stop at a gas station was a welcome chance for me. I hopped off the bus happily and lit up a cigarette, exhaling and thinking as a memory washed over me. A memory that came without warning every once in awhile.

I remembered walking out the door, pulling my suitcase, the old and battered one. Hearing the screaming in the background. Knowing that I was finally leaving them all behind, for good. No more abuse, no more being called a liar when I begged for help. I was finally escaping, and somewhere I knew I would be safe. I got in the passenger's seat of Janine's car, feeling it speed away. Gone, forever. No more foster homes.

"You're safe, now," Janine said to me, both of us then sixteen, driving in the dark, "No one is gonna hurt you anymore."

I sighed, "Thank you. I owe you."

"You owe me nothing," she said quietly, "Only that you'll never look back."

Janine let me stay at her house that first night, and it turned into my regular place. I couch surfed often, still working on songs and trying to get by, but it was Janine that really rescued me. So when she asked if I'd go with her to London, where she'd been offered her dream job, I couldn't say no. But that feeling, the one of being lost, pushed away and forgotten, unwanted, never left me. I still fought it, almost every day. Hearing from that bitch of a foster mother was what did it.

"Camels, huh?" I jumped. Brendon was standing next to me.

"What? Yeah," I finished my smoke, putting it out on the ground. He leaned against the bus, lighting one up himself.

"Won't that destroy your precious voice?" I said jokingly, and he smiled– actually smiled! –at me.

"Bad habits die hard," Brendon tapped it quietly, exhaling a smoke ring, "So what's the deal? Some evil ex boyfriend texting you or something?" He laughed a bit, "I could answer next time and scare him away."

"What? You? Ha!" I laughed, "You wouldn't scare a mouse if you tried."

"Oh yeah, why's that?"

"You look like a deer in headlights," I told him, "I mean, not in a bad way, but you know..."

"Gee, thanks," Brendon inhaled, "Why're you so bitchy, anyway? Who did you wrong?"

"Doesn't really matter," I answered, not sure why I was bothering to carry on this conversation, "Guess you could say I'm used to being told I can't do much, 'cause I'm a chick." I looked at him. "But I can write a song, I can scream if I want to, and I play the keyboard like it's nobody's business."

"Keyboard? Me too. Anything else?"

"Keytar, guitar, bass, little bit of drums...even the clarinet, just a bit," I nodded, "Janine taught me that last one, but she's much better at it."

Brendon seemed almost impressed, "So, where you from?"

"The great white North known as Toronto, Canada," I said, "Janine too. Known her since we were teenagers."

"I'm from Vegas."

"Yeah, I know."

"You know?"

I leaned against the bus on my shoulder, turning to face him, "You really think I don't know who you guys are? I've had your records since they came out. And if you ask me, you're doing not too shabby after losing Ryan and Jon-"

"We didn't lose them," Brendon said, sounding a little snappy, "They left on their own accord."

He was angry. I was curious.

"Well, whatever the fuck they're doing, I could care less," I said, "But look, don't steal my stage time anymore. I'd appreciate if you acted at least professional."

"Same goes to you."

"To me?"

"Look, I'll call a truce if you abide by contract rules," Brendon told me, "Otherwise..."

"I'll take otherwise," I told him, walking towards the entrance of the bus as Janine waved us over, "Nobody tells me what to do, and I won't take orders from anyone." I didn't turn to see his reaction, but I knew it didn't matter. Brendon Urie and I were about to get on a very bumpy road, and little did I know just how bad it would be.

Chapter 2: Red Hands.

Janine's POV

“LX 34 through 39, sound 25 standby.” I unlocked the button on the hip pack. “How’s that IQ coming along John?” It was the last night of the run and if I was to be honest with myself, my baby was becoming a toddler, something I had never had any luck with. It was an honest run of six months and besides an actor getting the flu at the very last moment (two nights ago) I was praying that everything would go well on this last night.

“LX standing by.” Came blaring into my left ear, I turned it down and waited for sound. “Sound standing by.”

I nodded, even though they couldn’t see me and pointed my next word to John who was still fiddling with the board.

I waited until they were a couple more lines into the scene before asking someone from the lighting crew to head up towards the follow spot platform during brief intermission. I watched Act 3. Scene 3 in particular because it was Dan’s turn to come on.

Dan was the replacement for Rosencrantz. I owed him one. I always try my best to make myself look professional when I watch him, but I can’t help sometimes, those big beautiful blue eyes...Ugh! I shook myself out of my own reverie and gave myself a little slap on the cheek for good measure. Keep it together; you still have two more acts to go!


I sat up a little straighter and flipped a couple paged in the prompt book to get to where we were and waited with baited breath before going back to the com pack to guide the fade out and Intermission began.

I pressed the button on the com again.

“Is someone on headset up on Follow-spot?”

“Follow-spot.” Came the prompt reply, and I gave a little sigh of relief.

“Do you know how to run it?”

“Yes’m.”

“Alright, everyone let’s get ready for Act 4.”

Two hours and three encores later we were finally getting everything ready for the next day. I sent out an email on my blackberry on the ride home in the taxi.

Hello everyone!
Great way to end the show! I hope to see you bright and early tomorrow for the load out (@ 10:00 because we all deserve a cuppa that isn’t rushed!!). Please remember your safety equipment and some clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
Thanks!
Janine D.

Mere moments later, I received a couple words for the heads of each department via email and a text message from Daniel.

Earl Grey?

I smiled a bit. True to all the things I had read about my favorite actor from my teens (which I had kept a secret from him and everyone else, thankfully) Daniel Radcliffe did, in fact, keep a record of people’s names and teas in a notebook he carried in his back pocket. If there was someone who understood the workload it was him and honestly, I can hardly get time to get my own tea in the morning, let alone everyone on stage.

Hmm. Usually, I replied, but I’m feeling like tomorrow is going to be a Chai day.

I paid the cabby and then unlocked the front door and let myself in and pressed the button for the elevator. My pocket vibrated and I couldn’t help the girlish part of me that smiled widely. I didn’t check it until after the doors closed in front of me.

XP too spicy in the morning for me. See you at 10.

I frowned. That email was sent out to all the crew members, as per usual the actors didn’t need to be there for load out, especially the fact that they wouldn’t know what to do with most of the equipment in terms of storage. I was about to text him back when I noticed the the door to my flat was open and an angry looking flatmate and good friend, Autumn, was looking at me.

“You won’t believe the nerve-“ she started. While I entered and put away my things Autumn went to explain the entirety of her day from how good she felt in the morning to when she left the theatre after lunch to the run in with the band who had taken her spot.

“He wouldn’t leave! The asshole. He wouldn’t even admit that he was being one for that matter. What give him the right to walk onto MY stage-“

“You’re opening.”

“-and decide that just because he was there earlier-“

“Like your contract states you should be.”

“-and so HE gets the spot. What the hell’s that about?”

“Well-“

“-you should’ve seen him Janine, all high and mighty-“

“Autumn.”

“-I can’t believe that he didn’t even know who I was-“

“Autumn!”

“-doesn’t he keep up with his OWN scene?”

“AUTUMN!”

She finally looked over. “Jeeze you don’t have to shout, I’m right in front of you.”

I could feel my eye twitching. “Sweetbabyjeebus,” I muttered and turned her contract over to her.

“Look, Pete sent me over the copy of your contract and it says right here that rehearsal space –although slotted for time- can and will be determined by main and opening acts in accordance to attendance if there is enough time in which the space isn’t being used. And this is technically the contract Peter signed with the rehursal space people, it’s not really yours but you have to obide by it so-”

“Are you serious?!” She wrenched the paper from me and I took off my square framed glasses and rubbed the bridge of my nose as I listened to the crinkling of the paper in her hand.

“That’s so fucking stupid! Just because I was there ON TIME-“

I stood up, “Listen Autumn. I agree with you, he shouldn’t’ve been a douche and given you the stage, believe me I understand. What you need to understand about the industry is the fact that 15 minutes early is on time and on time is late and late is fired. SO.” I took the contract from her. “If you want your space just be there earlier, and I’m sorry but there’s nothing I can really do because I’m not management. I’m just the Stage Manager.”

Autumn frowned and curled a lock of purple hair behind her ears. “What do you mean? I thought they called and wanted you to be the production manager.”

“They did, however I don’t think I can actually do it well, so I told them I’ll shadow whoever they decide to hire for production and just stick with stage managing.”

“…oh.”

I smirked. “Don’t sound so down about it, I still get nine-hundred quid a week.”

Her mouth dropped, “I’m only at five.”

I puffed out my chest in mock pride. “Well when you get to my level darling…”

We laughed and then decided to get take-away (take out, I’m getting pretty good at British slang) from the Lucky Cat just around down the street. When I found out there was a flat near the store featured in Sherlock I jumped at the chance to see it. And so now Autumn and I have been flat-mates for almost a year.

-

I was up at 07:45 as per usual, and even though it was an hour later than usual I couldn’t help the feeling that something big (besides the load out) was happening today. I brushed my teeth and hair, pulling the long waist length waves into a messy bun and putting on my paint jeans (from when I went to school for this stuff...yikes, I feel old) and my paint shirt which was an old shirt I had made for my house when I was obsessed.

He’s not coming today, my mind thought lazily, and so no makeup, or done up nails, I put on some button earrings and grabbed my mobile and headed out to my favorite café two blocks from my flat Le Tasse Rouge. I sat at my usual table overlooking the roundabout and watched the cars merging for a while before I heard someone say: “Is this seat taken?”

I looked up and to my surprise bright crystal blue eyes were looking down at me, Dan had two cups of tea in his hands. I moved the napkins and sugar jar to make room.

“Of course! Please.”

“Thanks.” He placed the tea cup down in front of me and smiled.

“What are you doing here?”

His brow furrowed for a moment. “Did you not get my message?”

I blinked and then like a wave crushing down on me I remembered with horror that I had completely gotten sidetracked and ignored his text, I couldn’t help my hands flying in front of my mouth. “Shit! I am so sorry, Autumn was ranting to me about her day and I totally forgot about it.”

Dan chuckled and took a sip from his cup. “It’s fine. So why did you come here?”

“This is my favorite –well –it’s the only decent café near my flat.” I took the teacup and played with the rim thinking.

“So how nice is it being home?”

“It’s good.” He replied leaning back. “I got to visit my parents and hang out with a couple of friends who are as incredibly hard to get a hold of as it was before. But it’s nice.”

“Good.” I smiled and sipped. And took a glance over him. Just like me he had jeans that were slightly spattered in paint and a grey t-shirt with multiple grease stains.

“Listen, I have a question.” He said suddenly, his rubbed his hands on his pants once before resting them there. “I hear you’re the Production manager for a European tour-“

“More like an assistant, I’m mostly going to be doing the stage managing like this one, only with a couple more things but continue.”

“I’m working on something and I need to get out of London, get inspiration so to speak.”

My eyes narrowed a bit. “Alright…”

“Can I come with you?”

“I don’t know,” I replied honestly, “You’d have to be doing something in order for me to justify your attendance.”

“Do you need an assistant?” he said quickly. I thought about it for a while. Usually for concerts ASM’s are unnecessary as it would only be a truckload of props as opposed to costumes and everything. Seeing as I was going to start bridging the gap between Production Manager and Stage I thought maybe he would come in handy.

“It would be convenient.” I admitted, “But would you be able to even write anything if you became my assistant.”

“Of course!”

I smirked. “No offense Daniel-“

“Dan, please.” He insisted and I shook my head a little.

“Sorry, look, if you can convince the Production Manager...Gary.” I pulled out my notebook from my back pocket and started scribbling down the number. “And convince him I would adore having you alone- I mean along.”

I cleared my throat and pretended that I needed to rummage around in my bag for something so I wouldn’t have to meet his face.

--

“Whoa.”

“Yup, she’s a beaut eh?” I said looking at the posh tour bus, I looked over at Autumn and grinned. “You’ve got drool on your coat.”

“Shut up.”

Snickering, I got on the bus and a hand waved me towards the back. It was Daniel. I waved back and then looked at Autumn pointedly as her “arch nemesis” she claimed got on the bus. Now it was really going to start.

Chapter 1: Death Valley.

Autumn's POV

I hung up the phone in disbelief, still hard to believe what had just happened. I stood there, idle for a moment or two, almost as if I'd forgotten how to breathe. Maybe I did, felt a bit lightheaded. I closed my eyes and smiled a little.

It's really happening, I said to myself. You're getting your big break. No more smokey pubs or dirty stages. You're hitting the big leagues now.

Immediately I wanted to tell my flat-mate (which, by the way, still sounded weird to me), Janine. I'd known her since highschool. I knew she was at the theatre by Baker Street, working her ass off as usual, and I knew she wouldn't want me barging in.

But this was a special occasion. Fuck me if I was staying home to wait!

I flew threw London's busy streets, how I never hit anyone is a mystery to Janine, but I'm well trained. My skateboard became my main mode of travel when I got here, because the 'tube' (again, weird) cost money, something a starving artist like myself couldn't do. I'd even taken it to gigs, meeting my band at the venue and surprising people by flying right past them.

The Globe Theatre, where a brand spanking new production of Hamlet was in its last days of preparation before it went live. Janine's 'baby,' she called it. I rolled my eyes a little. I love her, I really do, but she has a major problem when it comes to her job. The girl's a workaholic. I know stage and production management can be time-consuming, but come on. A drink once in a while wouldn't kill her.

True to character, I found her by the main stage, off to the right, chatting with one of the costume folks. It looked like she'd just settled an argument, which was normal of her. Janine, being in charge, always had a lot on her plate. People were giving me weird looks, which I either ignored or secretly relished. Purple hair, even today, isn't the most normal looking.

"Hey, Janine!" I shouted, making her jump. She turned, adjusting her headset.

"Autumn," she sighed, "Look, now's not a good time-"

"Yeah, I know, but seriously, I couldn't wait to tell you," I said excitedly, pushing my fox beanie back a little, "I just got a phone call."

Janine frowned, "Yes, it's in her dressing room, and she should know that by now. All the blocking was done yesterday…" She was talking into that blasted headset.


"JANINE!" I shook her, "This is serious business!"

"Well I don't have time-"

"PETE WENTZ PUT ME ON THE FBR TOUR."

She stopped in her tracks.

"…what?"

"THE Pete Wentz, the tattooed bass player and producer extrordinarre of all the bands we used to listen to!" I continued, "He called my agent, and he told him he loved the demo and wanted to throw me onto the stage next week!"

Janine swallowed visibly.

"WELL?" I asked impatiently, "Are you fucking happy for me or what?"

"This has got to be the WEIRDEST coincidence," Janine said slowly, taking me aside, "Because I got a call two hours ago from the FBR office, and they want me to be their production manager."

My eyes grew wide, "Wait, what? For how long?"

"The European tour." She smiled a little, "The entire European tour. The UK, Scandinavia, Germany, and if all goes well….North America." She paused. "They loved the work I did on the modern version of Pygmalion, and when they saw the custom designs I had for the-"

"You are shitting me. You are SHITTING ME. You're telling me we both got offered jobs, our fucking DREAM jobs, on the same damn tour?" Now I was sure I was gonna wake up from a dream, because there was no way in hell this was going to be true.

Janine nodded slowly, "We sure did…"

"Then come for a DRINK with me!" I grabbed her and she pulled back, "No, not until next week, when I'm done with all this!"

"Come onnnnnn," I said, whining a little, "You can't just keep working like the best thing ever hasn't happened!"

"IF you haven't noticed, Autumn, we have bills to pay," she pointed towards the door, "I'll have to see you tomorrow."

"Where's your date book? Can I schedule it in?" I joked.

Janine sighed, "I have a blackberry for that."

"Oh yeah, one of three."

"FOUR. Now, seriously, I'm super busy, I have to go!"

--

I was called over to the practice stage the next day to do a basic rehearsal. I'll admit I was nervous, but I was too stoked to let myself get scared. Skinny jeans and boots, I was ready. I walked over to the venue, my band there already, and was met by my drummer, Blake, with bad news.

"Aren't we on Stage 2?" I asked him. He shrugged.

"Looks like they overbooked," he said, adjusting his leather jacket, "We have one of the main acts taking our space right now." Bass playing Jack nodded in his direction, "Sorry, AppleJack."

I crossed my arms, "That is NOT in the contract I signed this morning," I walked past them, "Who the hell took our space?"

As I pushed the doors open, I saw exactly who. One of the main acts, Panic! At The Disco, a teenage favourite of mine, were doing a full set list, right in my block! I ripped said set list off the wall and stormed over to the tech area, pulling out every plug I could find.

"What gives?!" I heard someone shout. I emerged in front of them, keeping the same face.

"Hi, I'm Autumn, and I'd like to know why you took my space," I said, making eye contact with the drummer. Funny, I'd forgotten his name. Then again, I wasn't 15 anymore.

"Uh…" he glanced over to the lead singer, who set down his guitar and approached me.

"Look, you weren't here on time, so we borrowed the space." he said calmly, pushing dark hair out of his gigantic brown eyes.

I was immediately offended. "Borrowed"?! Who did they think they were?

"I was perfectly on time," I informed him, "I was told 1 o'clock sharp."

He shrugged, "Well, we've been here since 11, and since you didn't show-"

"Look, you took my space, I'm here now, as I was told to be," I said smartly, making the drummer raise his eyebrows, "So, scoot, please?"

The singer laughed, "Hey, I'm sorry but we've already started….Amber, was it?"

Now I was really mad.

"It's AUTUMN, as in Rainy Day Girl," I said, my eyes filled with fire, "I don't care who you think you are, but I'm entitled-"

"Well, according to our contract, YOU'RE an opening act," the singer continued, starting to smirk, "And you're late."

"Brendon…" the drummer got up and left his set, "Easy. This is obviously a misunderstanding."

"Spence, I have no idea who this girl even is." Brendon glanced at me, "How'd you get in here."

"I was offered the spot by Pete Wentz' rep, asshole," I snapped, feeling my face grow hot with fury, "Get the fuck off my stage." I'd been treated like this before, by bartenders that had offered to pay me in ulterior ways. I'd dealt with band guys that had laughed at me, called me 'princess' and told me to go try out for American Idol. I had seen it all, and in the grasp of my dream, I was not letting this guy take it all away from me.

"Ok, LISTEN," Spencer cut in between the two of us, "Hi, Spencer Smith. I've heard of you, I liked your EP. But seriously, we can work this out."

"Thanks, and yeah, if you guys give me my place back."

Brendon raised his eyebrows, "After you've been this rude? Not a chance."

Spencer locked eyes with him. Brendon shook his head.

"I'm not a fan of her attitude, who does she think she is?" he said.

"I can hear you," I growled.

"Good," Brendon said, "Because we're continuing our set. You're our opening act."

My stomach jumped into my throat, "I don't think so!"

"Autumn, according to the contract, you are the opening act," Spencer scratched the back of his head, "I'm sorry." Brendon got this smug look on his face that I wanted to peel off with a razor.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," I said, glancing over and seeing my band mates cowering away outside, "This is a joke, right? I mean…" I looked them up and down, "You're hardly a tier above me!"

Spencer sighed, "That might be, but that's how this tour is set up. I think you should have a word with management-"

No, I thought. FUCK this. I am NOT opening for that duo of douchebags. Fistfull of assholes. Fuck knows I've got some pride left in me.

"Oh believe me, I will," I snapped, storming away. I LIVED with management, and she was getting an earful when I got home.

Brendon looked at Spencer, "What a nightmare."

"I can see why she's upset, though," Spencer said quietly, "I mean…you remember when we first broke into the scene, it was everything."

"Yeah, I remember," Brendon picked up his guitar, "But it's not like that anymore. And if she wants to pick a fight, she chose the wrong band to fight with."

Spencer felt nervous. This was not the start to the tour he wanted at all.